Presented by: Jeanine Kennedy Partnerships Manager

Testimony Wilber and Millie Kenya Living working in Kenya – Found faith – Had child – Returning with Wilber – How keep that perspective!!!!! Kenya Wilber and Millie

The Bible shows us how God delights in rewriting stories. ‘to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour.’ Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) One of the most amazing things as Christians is that He allows us to be part of this purpose!

God expects us to be the Good Samaritan if we are to inherit eternal life.

Compassion splagchnizomai It’s not sympathy or pity. It’s more than that internal emotion. It’s a feeling so deep that there is an absolute need to do something whatever the cost. LET’S LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF COMPASSION In 1952 a US pastor (Everett Swanson) who had gone to Korea to minister to American troops went for an early morning walk. He saw men down the road throwing bundles of rubbish onto a lorry. He noticed that they kicked them first and he assumed this was to frighten off any rats. When he got closer he noticed little arms and legs hanging out of the bundles of rubbish. They were street children. The men were kicking them to see if they were still alive before throwing the dead ones onto the lorry. Children treated as rubbish. He felt compassion and started an orphanage which housed 32 children by the end of 1952. He couldn’t spend time raising money in the US as he had to be in Korea so he fasted and prayed. God gave him the picture of the Good Samaritan. “On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.” LUKE 10:35 (NKJ) That’s how Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Programme started. Today there are Compassion projects in 26 of the poorest countries. They are helping over 1.5 million children through over 6,200 indigenous churches. Compassion is Child focused. Compassion is Church based. Compassion is Christ centred. Compassion is Committed to Integrity. Was Everett Swanson the first person to witness this? Was he the first Christian to see the way the children were treated? I think not but he was struck by an overwhelming urge to take action.

For millions of children, the unchanging, ruthless story of poverty is all they have ever known.

Here are just a few tragic statistics about poverty: • Every time you take a breath a child under the age of 5 dies needlessly • Over 700 million people in the developing world live below the poverty line (U.S. $1.25 per day). • In developing countries, approximately 130 million children and teens – age 17 or under – have lost one or both parents. Sources: www.unicef.org | www.undp.org | www.worldbank.org | www.who.int www.freeworldacademy.com | www.un.org | www.timesofindia.com

Imagine the eternal hope that is forged when children who have only ever known hunger, disease, neglect and the disadvantages caused by poverty are introduced to Jesus. We have the power to CHANGE THEIR STORIES.

LEVITICUS 23:22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God.’” This law was meant for the protection of the poor. People needed to understand that they were caretakers of the land and that God owned the land. The world would say that it makes no sense to not use for yourself what you earn. But God says that we must remember that everything comes from Him and He wants us to help those who lack the blessings we have; to share. The blue corner on all Compassion communications is to remind us to leave a corner for the poor and give to others out of our abundance. Thank those who already sponsor in the church

• Encourage and support You can change the story for a child living in poverty by sponsoring through Compassion. • Make a lasting difference for the child you choose to sponsor. • Encourage and support your sponsored child through letters and prayers. • Help them feel loved, valued and cared for.

• Receives help through local, Every child sponsored: • Receives help through local, indigenous churches working in partnership with Compassion. • Gains access to health services, educational assistance, counseling and supplemental food. • Gets to hear the good news of Jesus. Wydick research – our model works. Ghana rick!!!!!

Be prepared to take a journey that will change a child’s life forever. It begins with you! So, let’s go right back to the parable of the Good Samaritan. What do you think the priest felt when he saw the half dead Jew? What do you think the Levite felt? Nothing? Whilst I know this is a story, I think they will have felt sorry for the man and even pity. However they weren’t moved with compassion. They didn’t care enough. Jesus wants us to care so much that we’re not feeling something but doing something. We’re giving part of our well earned income today to a child who we know is in need. We’re paying for it with a ‘corner of our field’. What we do for others in great need and how we treat them is the real demonstration of our Christ-like heart. SHOW DVD I pray that every one of you one day stands in front of Jesus and He says to you “Thank you. When I was hungry you fed me. When I was thirsty you gave me something to drink. When I was a poor child you became my loving sponsor, you sponsored me and spoke hope and encouragement into my life.” Thank you for all you do to support the ministry of Compassion. Some of you are already sponsors but can I just put a question in your mind? Could you sponsor another? If you don’t sponsor a child, could you? Today? I wonder if today is the day you will see a poor child in need, stop, give them a voice, give them hope and change their life and yours for eternity. Thank You and God bless you. TH

VISIT OUR TABLE DISPLAY AND CHANGE THE STORY FOR ONE CHILD AFTER THE SERVICE WHERE YOU CAN SPONSOR A CHILD TODAY AND CHANGE THE STORY FOR ONE CHILD LIVING IN POVERTY.